This is the first release of a land account presenting changes in land use, land cover and land value over time for the five Natural Resource Management (NRM) regions adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef. Results of the second land account for the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) region show rateable land values increased by 14 per cent between June 2009 and June 2013, according to a report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The results show a steady increase in the value of agricultural land despite a decrease in the land available. Land classified as Agriculture Cropping decreased in area by seven per cent, while the rateable value increased by 18 per cent.

"The five Natural Resource Management (NRM) regions adjacent to the GBR, reported a rateable land value increase from $109 billion in June 2009 to $123 billion in June 2013,” said Ms Karen Connaughton from the ABS.

The ABS land account also found that land classified as residential represents two-thirds of GBR total rateable land value but less than 1 percent of the region's total area. Across the GBR region a net total of 8,200 hectares of Residential land was added in the four year period. Residential land represented 67 per cent of the total GBR rateable land value. An increase in rateable value by 20 per cent ($69 billion in June 2009 to $83 billion in June 2013).

More than three quarters of land in the GBR region is classified for primary production, this includes Agriculture Cropping, Livestock Grazing and Other Primary Productions", Ms Connaughton said.

The findings are a result of collaborative effort from Commonwealth and State government agencies to provide a range of administrative by-product of information with the use of satellite imagery.